UNIFICATION OF LAND REFORM
Unified means together: Therefore, Unification of land reform is a process where smaller unit are sub-zoomed together into one single unit. It has always been regarded as an instrument or entry point for rural development. Early concepts of rural development were virtually the same as agricultural development because of the predominant role of agriculture in rural areas at the time. It can also be used to improve rural infrastructure and implement developmental and environmental policies.
REASON:
· If the government needs land for overriding public interest together the government can acquire individual land together and use it for a purpose.
· Where an individual acquire a surrounding land and joined it together
· It can as well happen in form of inheritance
· It can as well be a community land
ADVANTAGES OF UNIFICATION
1. The increase in the net income for agricultural enterprises should be provided.
2. The net area for the land usage and the size of parcel is decreasing and every parcel is being connected to the road
3. The labour saving in agriculture enterprise should be provided
4. The saving is provided for the materials used for protecting the parcels.
5. Increase the rate of irrigation is provided
6. The saving is provided for the cost of irrigation projects.
DISADVANTAGES
1. It cannot simply involve re-allocated land while ensuring that everyone gets the same amount as the quality of land re-allocated as to be taken into account.
2. Unification is equal to the original holding; if the value of the holding is less it may sometimes be necessary to pay financial compensation.
3. Successful consolidation has to overcome competing interest of the farmers.
4. There may be objections regarding the initial inventory of ownership, the boundaries between parcels.
LAND FRAGMENTATION
Land fragmentation is often believed to be detrimental to agricultural productivities. If there is some debate about whether some amount of land fragmentation is optimal in low input agriculture.
Fragment means Division. Land Fragmentation is when a large percel of land is broken into smaller one.
There are two types of fragmentation which are:
· Physical Fragmentation
· Legal Fragmentation
Physical Fragmentation is when the property is actually in a natural appearance.
Legal Fragmentation is when smaller property to be done,
REASONS FOR FRAGMENTATION
i. Due to social and economic pressure
ii. Due to family or community pressure
iii. Desire to make gain
iv. Social benefit (societal status)
v. To get support by government
BENEFIT OF FRAGMENTATION
1. Is the use of multiple eco zones. Different plots enable farmers to grow a wider mix of crops.
2. There are dis economies of scale with respect to the size of the parcels.
3. The variety of soil and growing conditions that reduce the risk of total crop failure by giving the farmer a variety of soil and growing condtions.
4. Fragmented land holdings is overrated and that the farmers own views often are neglected by policy makers
DISADVANTAGES OF FRAGMENTATION
1. Land fragmentation is said to harm productivity in a number of ways
2. Fragmented land holdings can increase transport costs.
3. Fragmentation might also increase the risk of disputes between neighbours.
4. Small fragmented land holdings might also cause difficulties to grow certain crops and prevent farmers from changing to high profit crops.
5. Also other cost associated with land fragmentation includes the hindering of economies of scale and farm mechanization. Small and scattered plots hamper the use of machinery and other large scale agricultural practices. In small fields operating machines and moving them from one field to another can cause problems. Small land holdings might also discourage the development of infrastructure like transportation, communication, irrigation, drainage.
6. It is notice that banks are sometimes unwilling to take small, scattered land holdings as collateral, which prevents farmers from obtaining credit to make investments.
REFERENCES
Bentley, Jeffery, 1987. “Economic and Ecological Approaches to Land Fragmentation; in Defence of a Much-Aligned Phenomenon.” Annual Review of Anthropology.
Blarel et.al, 1992. “the Economics of Farm Fragmentation: Evidence from Ghana and Rwanda.” World Bank Economic Review, vol. 6 no. 2 May 1992.